Orlando Personal Injury Lawyer - Auto Accidents

Helpful Hints In Selecting a Child Car Seat

Ed Normand — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:03:08 GMT

Baby Car Seats - Did you know...

Often parents move their child from a baby car seat to a full-size safety seat too soon. Data from crash-testing reveals that a baby is better protected in a rear-facing seat because the seat gives better support to the baby’s head and neck, and distributes the crash force over a greater area of their body. The general rule of thumb is to wait until your child is at least one-year of age, and weighs at least 20 pounds, before you move your child to a full-size safety seat. If your child weighs more than 20 pounds, but is still under a year of age, it is best to keep him/her in a rear-facing seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), along with car seat safety advocates, now also recommend that babies remain in a rear-facing seat as long as possible, up to the weight limit of the seat. If the weight limit of the seat is 30 pounds, these groups recommend that it is best to keep your child rear-facing until they reach the weight limit of the seat.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Normand

Proposed STANDUP Federal Act Driving to Save Lives

Sandy Grinnell — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:22:39 GMT

Just as high school prom season is about to start, the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STANDUP) Act and the SafeRoads4Teens campaign were announced in Washington DC yesterday. U.S. Senator Chris Dodd and U.S. Representatives Tim Bishop and Michael Castle were chief sponsors of the bill which will push states to adopt the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. The importance of the bill was emphasized with the display of two vehicles that had been totalled in a car crash where teenagers were killed.

The main focus of this campaign and proposed federal act is to save the lives of our teenagers. Auto accident-related death is the number one killer of young people between the ages of 15 and 20. On average, 10 teenagers are killed in car crashes, either as drivers or passengers, each and every day in the U.S.

Statistics have proven that the Graduated Driving License (GDL) for new drivers saves lives. The proposed STANDUP federal act would establish the following minimum requirements for states' GDL programs:

• A 3-stage licensing process (learner’s permit and intermediate stage before unrestricted driver’s license);

• A prohibition on unsupervised nighttime driving during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages;

• A passenger restriction during the learner’s permit and intermediate stage (no more than 1 non-familial passenger under the age of 21 unless a licensed driver over 21 years of age is in the vehicle);

• A prohibition on non-emergency use of cell phones and other communication devices, including text messaging, during the learner’s permit and intermediate stages;

• Age 16 for issuance of learner’s permit and full licensure at age 18;

• Any other requirement adopted by the Secretary of Transportation, including learner’s permit holding period at least 6 months; intermediate stage at least 6 months; at least 30 hours behind-the-wheel, supervised driving by licensed driver 21 years of age or older; automatic delay of full licensure if permit holder commits an offense, such as DWI, misrepresentation of true age, reckless driving, unbelted driving, speeding, or other violations as determined by the Secretary.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

Hulkster Sued For Son's Car Crash

Ed Normand — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:35:27 GMT

The Hulkster, Terry Bollea, and his wife, Linda, were recently sued for injuries caused by their 17-year-old son Nick Bollea in a recent auto accident. Nick Bollea was driving and crashed into a tree in Clearwater, Florida. The passenger in the car was severely injured, is permanently disabled, and will require extensive medical care for the rest of his life.

Some newspapers are claiming that the parents are being sued for liability for the car accident as the parents of Nick Bollea. Not exactly. In Florida parents are not automatically liable for full damages that their children cause in a car crash. If the parents owned the vehicle then they are liable for up to $100,000.00 in pain and suffering damages and up to $500,000.00 in special damages for medical losses and loss of earnings. Whoever signed for the Minor's drivers license, however, is liable for 100% of the damages. Therefore whichever parent (or other adult) that signed the authorization allowing the minor to get a driver's license in Florida is going to be charged with complete liability for the damages caused. There is a theory that if the parent's knew or should have known that the boy was a dangerous driver but gave him a vehicle to drive despite the danger they could then be found negligent for entrusting the vehicle to the boy. Again, this is not liability as a parent, but rather is liability for their own negligence. If he was an honor student with a perfect driving record this theory would not fly. Let us hope that the Hulkster was smart enough to purchase lots of insurance, otherwise he may be liable for lots of damages. If like some celebrities he was underinsured and low on assets then, sadly, it will be us taxpayers that pay for the lifelong medical care this Iraq War Veteran will require.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Normand

Sad Day for Contruction Workers' Family

Sandy Grinnell — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:43:49 GMT

A 49 year-old man and his 24 year-old son were both killed in the same accident on Florida's Turnpike yesterday morning. The Inverness residents were part of a construction crew wroking on the guardrails just north of the US 301 exit. It was reported that a car collided with the back of a semi trailer and then flew over the guard rail. The two men were repairing the back side of the rail and were struck by the vehicle it left the highway. The accident closed I-95 for several hours.

Any kind of work done on our highways is considered dangerous work. These men and women try to stay safe doing their job while traffic is traveling at Interstate speeds just a few feet from where they are working.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

Fraudulent Accident Ring-leader Admits Guilt

Sandy Grinnell — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 05:15:56 GMT

A man from the Miami-Dade area was convicted and another was arrested this week in connection with PIP fraud perpetrated on insurance companies in South Florida resulting from fake automobile accidents. Alex Sink, Florida's Chief Financial Officer, said this was the fourth and final arrest made by the Florida Division of Insurance Fraud's (DIF) investigation into an insurance fraud ring based in South Florida.

The 57 year-old man convicted of insurance fraud who it was thought was the ringleader will serve 54 months in prison and will pay restitution in the amount of $329,366 to several insurance companies. DIF estimated that the gang of ciminals with as many as 24 members may have created up to 80 fake crashes.

"Insurance fraud costs us all more, and we will aggressively investigate anyone suspected of defrauding others," CFO Sink said. "I commend our investigators for their work on this case and encourage their continued pursuit of criminals who take advantage of others by committing insurance fraud."

If you suspect someone has staged an accident for the sole purpose of submitting a fraudulent claim, you are encouraged to contact the Division of Insurance Fraud at 1-800-378-0445 or on the web at www.MyFloridaCFO.com/fraud. They are serious about catching and convicting these criminals and will reward you up to $25,000 for information that leads to a conviction.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

1 Dead, 2 Injured in Single Car Crash

Mike Damaso — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:51:38 GMT

The Orlando Sentinel reported on a crash occurring early Sunday morning in East Orange County. Around 2:30 a.m., a woman was driving a '98 Ford Mustang south on West Christmas Road near Fort Christmas when she failed to negotiate a curve and struck a concrete culvert on the east shoulder. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers were ejected and suffered injuries, one minor and one critical. No one in the car was wearing a seat belt.

Again and again, we see crashes with serious injuries and fatalities when those involved do not wear seat belts.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Damaso

Motorcyclist Loses Life, Wife Has Critical Injuries

Sandy Grinnell — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:15:29 GMT

A 60 year-old motorcycle driver crashed his bike into the back of a car as it was turning into a driveway on Sunday near Middleburg Florida. The motorcylce accident threw his wife and him from the bike. They were taken to the Shands hospital in Jacksonville by helicopter where the driver died, but the condition of his wife was not reported. Neither had been wearing a helmet.

While the motorcycle cop was attending to the scene of the accident, a drunk driver hit the officer's motorcyle and dragged it down the street. The deputy had unsuccessfully tried to slow the driver down but she was unable to stop in time. The 46 year-old woman was arrested for driving under the influence with property damage. The office was lucky in that she only hit his bike. It could have been deadly for him.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

Deadly Car Crash on I-4 Exit Ramp

Diego Madrigal — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:17:36 GMT

A crash on the I-4 exit ramp to Ivanhoe Boulevard left killed a driver and left 2 passengers critically injured this weekend. The victim was driving his Nissan Altima and attempted to exit the ramp driving too fast. The problem was made worse because recent rainstorms had left the road wet. The Altima drove off the ramp, hit a small tree, spun and hit a big pine tree. The exit ramp at Ivanhoe has a low speed limit because of the big curve one must negotiate as they are coming off I-4. The speed limit is set to protect people, and they should be followed so hopefully a tragedy such as this one will not happen again.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Diego Madrigal

Insurance Institute Recommends SUV's Have Stronger Roof Strength

Sandy Grinnell — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:38:23 GMT

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has issued a study on the relatiionship of roof strength in SUV's and injuries sustained in an automobile accident involving a rollover. The study reveals that "roof strength definitely influences injury risk."

All passenger vehicles currently on the market meet, some even exceed, the governmental standard for roof strength. Yet, 35% of all deaths in auto accidents involve rollovers. That's the average. In SUV's, however, 59% of all deaths are related to rollover accidents.

The IIHS suggests that by increasing the roof strength from 1.5 times the weight of the vehicle (the current standard) to 2.5 times the weight of the SUV, deaths in rollover related accidents could be reduced by 28%. Previous studies performed by the auto industry reported no relationship at all between "roof strength and injury risk in rollovers."

The government is reviewing the current standards for roof strength and one would hope they would review this current study when setting any new standards.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

Critical Injuries in Hit and Run Accident

Sandy Grinnell — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:19:10 GMT

A 21 year-old woman was critically injured and her 20 year-old male passenger was seriously injured in a hit and run near Panama City Florida last Friday. It was felt that rain-slick conditions contributed to the two car crash.

The vehicle that left the scene was a white or silver Scion that drove into the path of the the GMC Blazer. The Blazer hit the Scion and rolled over, throwing both passengers from the vehicle. Neither was wearing a seatbelt.

FHP is looking for a Scion with front-end damage and is asking the public to call *FHP with any information leading to the arrest of the hit and run driver.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell